Automatic brake for window lifters



Dec. 5, 1933. s F amass 1,937,626

AUTOMATIC BRAKE FOR WINDOW LIFTERS Original Filed May 21, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 5, 1933. s. F. BRIGGS AUTOMATIC BRAKE FOR WINDOW LIFTERS Original Filed May 21, 1924 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 5177/?517 Fifi 5, 1933. s. F. BRIGGS 1,937,626

AUTOMATIC BRAKE FOR WINDOW LIFTERS Original Filed May 21. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ax/W 52 17/550 175N577:

Patented Dec. 5, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Wis, a corporation oi Delaware Continuation of application Serial No. 714,900, May 21, 1924. This application December 28, 1928. Serial No. 328,825

8 Claims.

This application is a continuation of the one filed May 21, 1924, Serial No. 714,990, and the invention has for an object to provide a window lifter such as used in automobiles with means for automatically holding it in its adjusted positions and thereby prevent movement of the window incident to the jar and vibrations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brake for window lifters of the type shown in the i0 patent to Myers, No. 1,460,138, dated June 26.

"1923, wherein progressive window movement is accomplished by the successive engagement therewith of reciprocating rack members.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a window lifter and regulator of the character described having an irreversible clutch including a drive member loosely connected with a driven member and an axial pin for maintaining the drive and driven members in proper alignmet-1t.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brake mechanism interposed between the handle and the window actuating mechanism of a regulator of the character described which consists of an irreversible clutch operable upon actuation of or the handle to impart the desired movement to the window but which is automatically applied by the movement of the window.

a A further object of the invention is to provide such a brake mechanism in the form of an expending coiled spring, the ends of which are engzaged with the handle and the rack-driving member respectively, with play so distributed between the parts that the contraction of the spring by the turning of the handle in either direction may be accomplished, whereas the pressure exerted by the downward movement of the window tends to expand the spring against a housing to produce the braking effect. And a still further object of the invention is to s simplify the construction of a device of this character so as to minimize the cost of manufacture withoutsacrificing strength and durability and effectiveness of operation. With the above and other objects in view which r will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood r that'such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims. I In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated several complete examples of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed accord ing to the best modes I have so far devised ,for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which.

Figure l is a central, vertical, sectional view of a window lifter provided with a brake in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view thereof;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the parts of the locking mechanism in the relative order of assembly but disconnected, and

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are transverse, sectional views taken on the plane of the line 44 showing the relation of parts in the idle, lifting and lowering conditions, respectively, and

Figures '7, 8 and 9, and Figures 10, 11 and 12, and Figures 13, 14 and 15, are views similar to Figures 2, 3 and 4, respectively, of modifications of the invention:

Figure 16 is an elevation of the window lifter; and,

Figure 17 is a transverse sectional view thereof on the line 17i7 of Figure 16.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 20 represents a window such as an automobile window, which is provided with a. sash or channel 21 at its bottom edge and is suitably guided by means, not shown, for vertical movement. A bracket 22 on the channel or window sash is connected with a lifting pin 23 which is carried by a slide member 24 guided for vertical movement within a casing 27, as best shown in Figures 16 and 17, and adapted to be raised and lowered to eiiect a corresponding movement of the window.

The casing 2'? is of conventional construction and has one marginal edge shaped to form a. guide-way for the slide member 24 and has its opposite edge provided with a lateral flange 27 to which plate members 27" are secured at spaced 1 points, the plate members over-lie rearward extensions or enlargements of the casing 27 to form enclosures and guides adapted to maintain a plurality of rack bars 26 properly mounted within the casing. The rack bars have their marginal edges facing the guide-way within which the slide member 24 moves, provided with spaced teeth 25 engageable with the inner portion of the lifting pin 23, as best illustrated in Figure 17, to impart movement to the slide 24 and consequently the lifting pin and the window upon operation of the rack bars.

The rack bars, which are preferably of heavy V in the direction permitting to its lowest position. To prevent this, the braksheet metal, have an oscillatory movement to successively engage their teeth 25 with the pin 23 and impart either an upward or downward movement to the slide member and the window, and this movement of the rack bars is obtained by turning eccentrically mounted washers or discs 28 within suitable circular openings formed in the rack bars adjacent enlargements thereof which are disposed in the enclosures between the casing wall and the plate members 27' The discs 28 are formed of metal preferably of the same thickness as the rack bars and are separated by spacing Washers 29, which also serve to maintain the rack bars properly spaced.

There are two sets of eccentrically mounted washers, one at each plate 2"!" and each set is mounted upon a shaft 30 which is hexagonal or of other irregular cross sectional shape to maintain a driving connection between the shafts and the One of the shafts 30, preferably the upper one, is provided with a handle 31 for imparting rotation to the shaft to cause its eccentric discs to impart the desired movement to the rack bars,

the other shaft turning in unison with the actuated shaft inasmuch as its eccentric discs are mounted in step with those of the actuated shaft.

Without a brake mechanism the weight of the window with the jar and vibration incident to the travel of the automobile would press downwardly one rack-bar after the other in the successive order necessary to rotate the shafts 30 the window to settle ing mechanism of the present invention is designed.

The handle is non-rotatably secured to a shaft 32 axially aligned with the shaft 30 and a coiled spring expanding brake member 33 is so connected with the shaft 30 and handle shaft 32 that the turning of the handle in either direction will cause said spring to be contracted out of its frictional bearing engagement with the inner since the shaft 30 is well wall of a surrounding housing or cup 34, whereas any tendency for the shaft 30 to turn under the weight of the window will serve to increase the normal expansion of the spring which alone is sumcient to constitute an effective brake for holding the window in its elevated positions. From the end of the handle shaft 32 projects a central pin 35 fitting in a recess 36 of the shaft 30 maintaining them in axial alignment and providing a bearing for the handle shaft journalcd in the bearings formed by axially aligned rounded flanges 37 struck from the casing 27 and the plate member 27". A diametrical key projection 38 on the end of the shaft 30 projects into a slot 3% in the end of the enlarged head on the handle shaft 32 and the shape of said slot is such that a material play is provided between these parts. as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, though after such play has been taken up in either direction positive engagement is effected, whereby one part will be driven by the other.

The coiled spring 33 forming the expanding brake member surrounds the enlarged head of the handle shaft 32 and has one end engaged in the radially disposed opening 40 thereof, which is of considerably larger diameter than the wire of which the spring is formed so as to provide for play or lost motion between them, while the other end of the spring is engaged in a notch 41, in a washer 42 carried by the end of the shaft 30, being keyed thereon by having a central opening 43 of the shape of the key projection 38 and fitting on it.

The cylindrical cup or spring housing 34 is contracted to have a bearing around the handle shaft 32 and has radially extending lugs or ears 44 which are riveted to the frame 27.

In operation the turning of the handle 31 in a clockwise direction will through the action of the eccentrically mounted discs 28, cause the rackbars to successively move toward the pin 23, then upwardly and away from the pin' and then downwardly so as to result in the lifting of the window by the successive engagements of the rack-bars with the pin. The turning of the handle in the opposite direction produces the opposite result or the lowering of the window. When the handle is released the spring, which is normally confined or under compression in order to fit within the cup, by its tendency to expand serves to grip the inner wall of the cup with a frictional engagement that will tend to prevent it from turning in the cup. It thus acts as a brake to pre-- vent the downward movement of the window, but, further than this, the weight of the window actually increases the braking action since the tendency of the shaft 30 to turn under the weight of the window is in a direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 4 and the disc 42 connected with it and engaging the rear end of the spring tends to move the said end of the spring in the direction of the arrow of Figure 4 to uncoil or expand it further, thus increasing the frictional grip of the spring against the brake cup.

The manner in which the brake is released by the turning of the handle in either direction will be understood by reference to Figures 1, 4, 5 and 6. A turning of the handle in the direction for lifting the window brings the shoulders of slot 39 into engagement with the key 33 almost immediately, as in Figure 5, so as to directly drive the shaft 30 and consequently the disc 42 and thereby turn the rear end of the spring in the direction opposite to the arrow in Figure 4 so as to tighten the spring or contract it and so release its frictional engagement with the brake cup, the front end of the spring permitting of this relative movement between shaft 32 and the spring by the play provided for it in the larger opening 40. This relation of the parts with the spring contracted and so released from its braking engagement with the cup continuesthroughout the turning of the handle for lifting the window.

The turning of the handle in the opposite direction for lowering the window, the direction of the arrow in Figure 4, causes the spring to be contracted or tightened by carrying the front end thereof in the direction of the arrow, while the rear end is permitted to lag behind during the considerable lost motion between the key 38 and the shoulders of slot 39 while the parts change from the position of Figure 4 to the position of Figure 6. When the play is taken up and these parts come into engagement a positive driving connection is effected with the brake released and the handle serves to lift the window without interference by the brake.

It will thus be seen that the brake is effective for holding the window in any of its positions and is rendered ineffective by the first movements of the handle in either direction for raising or lowering the window, thus being automatically released to avoid interference with the handle-controlled window movements.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9, instead of the notched washer 42, a cup-shaped washer $2 is used, which surrounds the end of the handle shaft 32' and has slots 45 in its edges in which travel the opposite ends of a cross-pin 46 driven through the handle shaft to provide the limited play between the handle shaft and the operating shaft, the coiled spring 33' having one end projecting into one of these slots and engaging the cross-pin 46 and the other end entering an opening 47 in the cup 42'. A thrust washer 48 is preferably placed around the handle shaft 32' and confined between the end wall of the brake cup 34 and the cross-pin 46.

The modification shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12 also provides a cross-pin 46' but in this instance the cross-pin is located in the reduced end of the handle shaft 32" corresponding with the pin 35. Also the operating shaft 30', instead of having a key projection, has slots 49 in its end to receive the cross-pin 46' and provide the driving connection with play between the handle shaft and the operating shaft. The coiled spring 33' engages one inturned end behind an end of the cross-pin 46', as seen in Figure 12, and its other inturned end in a slot 50 of the operating shaft, as seen in Figure 10, the last mentioned end of the spring also projecting through a notch 51 in the edge of a spring guide washer 52 which fits within the coiled spring and prevents it from being distorted by contraction. The spring guide washer 52 at the end of its cylindrical flange portion has a pair of lugs 53 entering the slots 49 to hold it in place.

In that modification of the invention shown in Figures 13, 14, and 15, the hexagonal operating shaft 30" abuts directly against the end of the handle shaft 32' with the pin extension 35 of the handle shaft passing therethrough and the driving connection between them is afforded by a spring guide washer 54 which has a hexagone] opening to fit on the operating shaft 36" and a cylindrical flange to fit within the coiled spring 33'. The cross-pin 46 through the handle shaft engages slots 45' in the edge of the cylindrical flange of the spring guide washer 54 to establish the driving connection with play between the shafts and the spring has one end engaged in an opening 55 of said washer and the other end. engaged behind the end of the crosspin 46, as shown in Figure 15. To supply a bearing for the outer end of the operating shaft a flanged bearing washer 56 is fitted within the opening of the casing or frame 27 and receives the end of the washer 54, as shown in Figure 13.

These various modifications operate in substantially the same manner as the preferred form of the invention of Figures 1 to 6, inclusive; and it will be noted that in all instances the brake mechanism includes an irreversible clutch comprising a drive and a driven member having a loose driving connection with each other and maintained in proper axial alignment by a central pin.

While the invention is particularly suitable for window lifters of the type shown and described, it is also suitable for window lifters and similar devices of the rack and pinion type and of other types in which a rotary handle constitutes an operating means for raising or lowering a window or the like. The term window lifter. therefore, as used in this specification is not intended to be limited to any particular type but is to include all devices of a similar nature.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a window lifter having a window-operating member and a handle member, a pin projecting from one member fitting in a recess in the other member to maintain axial alignment, means for establishing driving connection between the mcmbers with limited lost motion or play permitting of relative movement thereof, a coiled spring having its ends connected with the respective members to be expanded and contracted by such relative movements, and a hous ing surrounding the spring and engaged by the spring when in its expanded condition to prevent the operating member from turning.

2. In a window lifter having a windowoperating member and a handle member. means forming a driving connection between them permitting lost motion. a washer interposed between the members and keyed on the operating member, a coiled spring having one end connected with the washer and the other end connected with the handle member and having lost motion with the latter, and a fixed housing surrounding the coiled spring and engaged thereby.

3. A brake for window lifters comprising a window-operating member, a handle member, a key projection on the operating member extending into a slot of the handle member to form a driving connection between them permitting of limited play, a washer fitting 0n the key member to move with the operating member, a coiled spring surrounding the handle member with one end engaged in the washer and the other end having loose engagement with the handle memher, and a fixed spring housing forming a brake cup engaged by the spring for preventing movements of the operating member.

4. A brake for window lifters comprising a window-operating member, a handle member, a pin projecting from the handle member and fitting in the operating member, a key projecting on the operating member extending into a slot of the handle member to form a driving connection between them with limited play, a washer fitting on the key projection to move with the operating member, a coiled spring surrounding the handle member with one end engaged in the washer and the other end having loose engagement with the handle member, and a fixed spring housing forming a brake cup engaged by the spring for holding the operating member against turning.

5. In a window regulator mechanism, the combination with a supporting member including a housing. a driving member journaled in said housing, the driving member part within the housing having cavity, a driven member having a part disposed within the cavity, means independent of the driving member part forming the cavity and a driven member part disposed within the cavity carried by one of said members and serving as a guide for maintaining the driving and driven members in axial alignment, and a coil spring within the housing and arranged to be expanded thereagainst, said coil spring being associated with the driving member and the driven member in such manner that driving effort exerted on the driving member contracts the spring away from the housing to permit ready movement of the parts and driving effort exterted on the driven member causes the spring to ex-,,,;f'

fitting in the operating member, a key projection on the operating member, a washer fittin on the key projection and surrounding the end of the handie member, a cross-pin through the handle member engaging slots in the washer to form a driving connection between the handle member and the operating member with limited play, a coiled spring surrounding the washer with one end connected thereto and the other end engaging an end of the cross-pin, and a fixed brake cup surrounding the spring and engaged thereby for holding the operating member against turning.

1. A brake for window lifters comprising a window-operating member, a handle member, a. pin projecting from the handle member and fitting in the operating member, a key projection on the operating member, a washer fitting on the operating member and keyed thereto and surrounding the end of the handle member, a cross-pin on the handle member engaging slots in the washer for constituting a driving connection between the handle member and the operating member with limited lost motion, a coiled spring surrounding the washer and having one end engaged therewith and the other end engagmg loosely one end of the cross-pin, and a fixed brake cup surrounding the spring and engaged thereby for holding the operating member.

8. In a window regulator, a supporting member including a, fixed brake cup, a driving member journalled in the supporting member with a part disposed within the brake cup, a driven member in axial alignment with the driving member and having a part also disposed within the brake cup, a coil spring mounted in the brake cup between the drive member and the inner wall of the brake cup and frictionally engaged with the inner wall of the brake cup when free, the ends of the coil spring being engageable with the driving and driven members so that a turning force applied to the driving member tends to wind up the spring and release its frictional contact with the brake cup but turning force applied to the driven member tends to unwind the spring and increase its frictional contact with the brake cup, and a centering pin connected with the driving member and projecting beyond the end thereof for engagement with the driven member, said centering pin being axial to the driving and driven members and serving as a guide to maintain the same in axial alignment.

STEPHEN F. BRIGGS. 

